Business Services
How to Increase the Efficiency of a Construction Project
Too often, the word efficiency is equated to speed. There is another definition relevant to construction. Efficiency also relates to the foot print a building will leave on its environment, so new construction projects must consider methods to make their projects more energy efficient. Construction consultants are knowledgeable in the materials and technology required to make a project compliant with today’s energy standards.
Design
The design of your home or commercial project can take advantage of natural elements to improve the efficiency of the building as a whole. One method is to use the sun’s orientation to cool your office at strategic times of day. The natural lighting would also cut down on power bills for the building, which saves the owner money down the road.
Materials
Construction & turnaround services have to consider every aspect of the development of a project whe efficiency is at stake. Materials play an important role because they impact the environment before, during and after the project is complete. Windows should be double pane, which can remove up to 25% of energy loss. Insulation is another concern that can heavily influence a building’s energy consumption.
Consultants may also include plans for solar installations, or instructions to order energy efficient bulbs for ceiling lighting. Finding a good lighting plan that minimizes consumption is crucial, as most buildings leave their lights on all day long.
Appliances
One of the last places to find savings is in the appliances you plan to use in the building. Upgrading the HVAC to a new unit, or using more energy efficient sinks and toilets will cut down on consumption.
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Lyle Charles Consulting services are available now for construction mediation and claims preparation. Lyle Charles has more than forty years in the field of commercial construction projects.
What Is Interim Short Term Management?
Written by Lyle Charles
The construction industry is home to all kinds of different methods and practices designed around getting the job done. Obviously, there are countless materials and other “tricks of the trade” that help build large buildings, keep them standing and make customers happy.
However, what you may not know about is interim short term management. This is the practice in construction where a management team is brought in to take over the build for a very short period of time. Why would you want this? It usually has to do with a very specific problem or challenge that threatens the entire project. So it could be a claim that was filed or delays due to weather. Whatever the case, a short term management team that specializes in this delay will take the project over while you concentrate on other important areas that still need your attention.
The best versions of these management teams can do everything from help settle legal disputes to serve as a construction expert witness to simply suggest a solution they know will work for a very precise problem you may be experiencing. So this is definitely a solution to consider.
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Construction projects involve too many moving parts to go at it alone, which is why so many companies in your situation rely on Lyle Charles Consulting. Aside providing construction claim analysis service, Mr. Charles is experienced in all facets of the construction industry and can lend his knowledge to help get yours the results you desire.
Merchant Account Contracts: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Guest post Provided by Charge.com Payment Solutions, Inc. Charge.com a company designed to serve small business merchants that accept credit cards online, while providing low cost and flexible options. Visit the Charge.com website for more information.
When most people hear the word “contract”, be it a cell phone contract or a lease agreement, they shift a little in their seats. Contract sounds like a bad word. Contracts can mean a loss of freedom, and a sneaking suspicion that you’re not the one truly benefitting from it. But there are certain advantages and disadvantages to having a contract with internet merchant accounts.
The Good: Contracts with credit card processing companies do have certain benefits for online merchants. A contract outlines the responsibilities of each party so it is clear and concise.
The Bad: Six month or yearlong contracts are not always in the interest of the merchant. Contracts are made by the merchant service to protect their profits, and rightfully so. But as a merchant you need to make sure that the benefits are in your favor as the merchant if you accept credit cards online. Be sure if you do choose a contract, to read the fine print, make sure the agent hands you all the pages, and make sure there are no termination fees.
The Ugly: But there are many hassles that come with a contract that you may not want to deal with. For example early termination fees that could come with a contract are a bad sign. You need flexibility for your merchant services for more freedom and control. You can’t predict everything in the future as a merchant, and sometimes you simply just need to change your mind about how you do your business. Termination fees can cost anywhere from $300 to $1,000. Say goodbye to a month’s worth of leasing, or goodbye to that new investment that could really profit your business or even goodbye to that new desk chair. There is always a cost of doing business, but why make sacrifices that don’t need to be made?
Cash Back Credit Cards
Because of the increasing popularity of credit card use nowadays, a lot of companies are competing with one another in terms of getting more customers. Because of this, a lot of promotions and schemes have been offered by various credit card companies, and one of them is cash back credit cards. These credit cards reimburse the holder for a certain percentage of their purchases. The cash back credit cards usually offer 0.5% up to 2% rebate from purchases. Some of these cards raise the percentage of rebate up to 5%, which attracted more people.
Cash back credit card rebates can be claimed in many ways. First, you can accumulate the rebates you get and use it to pay your annual fees. Second, the credit card company can write a check for the amount of rebate, and finally, the credit card company can deduct the rebates you have earned in you current billing statement.
Some of the benefits that cash back credit card holders can enjoy are the convenience of not having to pay for annual fees ever again. Another advantage is that you can convert these cash back rewards into other rewards like miles conversion or rewards points conversion, which entitles you to exchange the said points for some gifts. Finally, the cash back credit card is the only credit card which is flexible. Unlike other types of cards like the miles card, and other credit cards, you cannot convert them into cash or points. The cash back credit card is an all-in-one card which gives you the flexibility of having all the benefits of other cards into one credit card.
Thrive in Today’s Fast Paced Business Environment
Your customers are in a hurry, and you should be too.
In this day and age of high-speed internet both at home and on-the-go, people don’t like waiting for things to get done, and you shouldn’t either. Be quick to act and respond to the needs of your customers with the help of an online point-of-sales system. Enable lightning-fast transactions online and on the go with the help of an internet merchant account.
An internet merchant account enables you, and your business, to accept credit cards online. With a fully-featured online point-of-sales that’s enabled with credit card charging facilities, your customers no longer have to wait to have their orders filled and processed. That means no more bank lines, check clearing and holding periods, waiting for bank transfers to get payments through – just a quick online verification and the payments are received, orders are filled. This means both you and your customers get to go on doing important business sooner, instead of later thanks to an effective online payment system. This not only means that you’re customers go home with their products happier, but you also increase ordering speed and efficiency, allowing you to better grow your business instead of worrying about payments.
Step out of the slow lane, and take the expressway to payment convenience. With a well-equipped online payment system, not only will you grow, but you will grow, faster.
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